US3824945A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Steerable aqua-sled
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-03-24
•
Granted: 1974-07-23
•
Expires: 1992-03-24
Abstract
Abstract A water sled which when towed behind a moving boat is steerable from side to side by a rider in a simple but effective manner. This positive maneuverability is accomplished by moving the effective point of attachment of the towline to the sled from a point on the bow to a point on the side of the sled causing the sled to become aligned at some appreciable angle to the towline direction. The relative water flow striking the sled at an angle and the two bottom skegs cause the sled to dart to the outside of the towboat wake. The rider changes the effective towline attachment point and executes these maneuvers by pulling on or releasing a single control rope which attaches to the towline. The towline, in turn, is fastened to the stern of the sled.
Inventors
- 👤 F Casciano
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 22:04
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63B; B63B34/00; B63B34/60; B63B34/50; B63B34/54
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
103 words
A towed water sled vehicle comprising a body, a first rope attachment mounted on the body near a stern thereof, a second rope attachment mounted on the body forward of the first attachment, a first rope connected to the first attachment and a second rope connected to the second attachment, joint means for joining the ropes remote from the attachments, means on the body for pulling the joint means toward a center of the body and means on the body for shifting the joint means from one side of the body to another, and means for towing the vehicle from the joint means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
103 words
A towed water sled vehicle comprising a body, a first rope attachment mounted on the body near a stern thereof, a second rope attachment mounted on the body forward of the first attachment, a first rope connected to the first attachment and a second rope connected to the second attachment, joint means for joining the ropes remote from the attachments, means on the body for pulling the joint means toward a center of the body and means on the body for shifting the joint means from one side of the body to another, and means for towing the vehicle from the joint means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The towed water sled vehicle of claim 1 wherein the first rope and the means for towing the vehicle comprise a single tow rope connected to the first attachment and passing through the joint means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The towed water sled vehicle of claim 1 wherein the second attachment comprises adjustable means for holding the second rope at varied positions whereby the joint means is held by the second rope at varied proximity to the body.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
92 words
The method of towing a water sled craft comprising toWing the water sled craft by pulling at an angle to a centerline of the water sled craft on a joint means rearward of a bow along a first side of the water sled craft rearward of a bow, moving the joint means toward the centerline of the craft, and moving the joint means to a second side of the craft and sequentially moving the joint means toward the centerline and from one side of the craft to another side of the craft.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
92 words
The method of towing a water sled craft comprising toWing the water sled craft by pulling at an angle to a centerline of the water sled craft on a joint means rearward of a bow along a first side of the water sled craft rearward of a bow, moving the joint means toward the centerline of the craft, and moving the joint means to a second side of the craft and sequentially moving the joint means toward the centerline and from one side of the craft to another side of the craft.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method of towing a craft of claim 4 wherein the pulling comprises connecting a towline to a stern of a towed craft, pulling generally forward on the towline, pulling inward on the towline toward a centerline of the craft from a point on the craft forward of the stern, and controlling a distance of the towline from the point.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 5 further comprising restraining a portion of a towline which is adjacent the craft for movement substantially parallel to a surface of the craft.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the pulling step comprises pulling at a side of the craft between a bow and a stern of the craft, whereby the sled attains an angle of about from 40* to 80* with respect to towline direction.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
94 words
Towed water vehicle comprising a hull, means connected to the hull for holding a towline at a first side of the hull rearward of a bow of the vehicle, means to move the towline toward a center of the hull, and means connected to the hull for shifting the towline from one side of the hull to another side of the hull and back, whereby the towed water vehicle attains an angle of about from 30* to 80* with respect to a direction of a towline, on either side of the towed water vehicle.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
94 words
Towed water vehicle comprising a hull, means connected to the hull for holding a towline at a first side of the hull rearward of a bow of the vehicle, means to move the towline toward a center of the hull, and means connected to the hull for shifting the towline from one side of the hull to another side of the hull and back, whereby the towed water vehicle attains an angle of about from 30* to 80* with respect to a direction of a towline, on either side of the towed water vehicle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
148 words
A towed vehicle comprising a body, a first rope attachment mounted on the body near a stern thereof, a second rope attachment mounted on the body forward of the first attachment, a first rope connected to the first attachment and a second rope connected to the second attachment, joint means for joining the ropes remote from the attachments and means for towing the vehicle from the joint means wherein the second attachment comprises an opening in the vehicle body and wherein the second rope passes through the opening, and further comprising a handle on one end of the second rope and a cleat for holding the handle remote from the opening whereby the joint means is held adjacent the opening, and whereby releasing the handle from the cleat permits the handle to be moved toward the opening and the joint means to be moved away from the opening.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
148 words
A towed vehicle comprising a body, a first rope attachment mounted on the body near a stern thereof, a second rope attachment mounted on the body forward of the first attachment, a first rope connected to the first attachment and a second rope connected to the second attachment, joint means for joining the ropes remote from the attachments and means for towing the vehicle from the joint means wherein the second attachment comprises an opening in the vehicle body and wherein the second rope passes through the opening, and further comprising a handle on one end of the second rope and a cleat for holding the handle remote from the opening whereby the joint means is held adjacent the opening, and whereby releasing the handle from the cleat permits the handle to be moved toward the opening and the joint means to be moved away from the opening.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
127 words
The towed vehicle of claim 9 wherein the body comprises a water sled having a planing hull configuration with a curved upward bow and sides and a generally flattened bottom near a stern, and having a dished passenger compartment with an integrally formed back rest and seat and foot rests on sloped forward walls of the compartment and handhold rails extending fore and aft along opposite sides of the compartment, and downward extended skegs mounted on the hull bottom near the stern, and wherein the second attachment opening extends through the hull on a centerline of the craft from between spaced foot rests in the passenger compartment through the bottom of the hull and wherein the cleat is in the passenger compartment for holding the second rope.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
98 words
A towed vehicle comprising a body, a first rope attachment mounted on the body near a stern thereof, a second rope attachment mounted on the body forward of the first attachment, a first rope connected to the first attachment and a second rope connected to the second attachment, joint means for joining the ropes remote from the attachments and means for towing the vehicle from the joint means, and a holding means connected across the vehicle for holding the first rope close to the vehicle between the vehicle and the holding means, thereby preventing tipping of the vehicle.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
98 words
A towed vehicle comprising a body, a first rope attachment mounted on the body near a stern thereof, a second rope attachment mounted on the body forward of the first attachment, a first rope connected to the first attachment and a second rope connected to the second attachment, joint means for joining the ropes remote from the attachments and means for towing the vehicle from the joint means, and a holding means connected across the vehicle for holding the first rope close to the vehicle between the vehicle and the holding means, thereby preventing tipping of the vehicle.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
157 words
The method of towing a craft comprising connecting a towline directly to a stern which is always rearward of a bow of a towed craft, pulLing generally forward on the towline at an angle to a centerline of the craft on a side of a craft, pulling inward on the towline toward a centerline of the craft from a point on the craft forward of the stern, and controlling a distance of the towline from the point, sequentially holding the towline close to the point, allowing the towline to be pulled a distance from the point on one side of the ceterline, holding the towline a fixed distance from the point on one side of the point, pulling the towline to the ceterline of the craft, allowing the towline to be pulled to a second side of the centerline, and holding the towline at a fixed distance from the point on the second side of the centerline.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
157 words
The method of towing a craft comprising connecting a towline directly to a stern which is always rearward of a bow of a towed craft, pulLing generally forward on the towline at an angle to a centerline of the craft on a side of a craft, pulling inward on the towline toward a centerline of the craft from a point on the craft forward of the stern, and controlling a distance of the towline from the point, sequentially holding the towline close to the point, allowing the towline to be pulled a distance from the point on one side of the ceterline, holding the towline a fixed distance from the point on one side of the point, pulling the towline to the ceterline of the craft, allowing the towline to be pulled to a second side of the centerline, and holding the towline at a fixed distance from the point on the second side of the centerline.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
118 words
A towed vehicle comprising a body, a first rope attachment mounted on the body near a stern thereof, a second rope attachment comprising handle means mounted on the body forward of the first attachment, a first rope connected to the first attachment and a second rope connected to the second attachment, means for joining the ropes remote from the attachments and means for towing the vehicle from the joint means, wherein the joint means comprises a pulley having a fixed portion attached to the second rope remote from the second attachment and wherein the first rope and means for towing comprises a single tow rope threaded through the pulley and having a terminus attached to the first attachment.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
118 words
A towed vehicle comprising a body, a first rope attachment mounted on the body near a stern thereof, a second rope attachment comprising handle means mounted on the body forward of the first attachment, a first rope connected to the first attachment and a second rope connected to the second attachment, means for joining the ropes remote from the attachments and means for towing the vehicle from the joint means, wherein the joint means comprises a pulley having a fixed portion attached to the second rope remote from the second attachment and wherein the first rope and means for towing comprises a single tow rope threaded through the pulley and having a terminus attached to the first attachment.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
107 words
A towed vehicle comprising a body, a first rope attachment mounted on the body near a stern thereof, a second rope attachment mounted on the body forward of the first attachment, a first rope connected to the first attachment and a second rope connected to the second attachment, joint means for joining the ropes remote from the attachments and means for towing the vehicle from the joint means wherein the second attachment comprises an opening in the vehicle body and wherein the second rope passes through the opening, whereby the second rope moves in the opening to hold the joint means at varied proximity to the body.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
107 words
A towed vehicle comprising a body, a first rope attachment mounted on the body near a stern thereof, a second rope attachment mounted on the body forward of the first attachment, a first rope connected to the first attachment and a second rope connected to the second attachment, joint means for joining the ropes remote from the attachments and means for towing the vehicle from the joint means wherein the second attachment comprises an opening in the vehicle body and wherein the second rope passes through the opening, whereby the second rope moves in the opening to hold the joint means at varied proximity to the body.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-07-22 | 1978-01-21 | 1978-07-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-07-22 | 1982-01-21 | 1982-07-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-07-22 | 1986-01-21 | 1986-07-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |